James Rogerson

The Fairphone Gen 6 Plus is now available in the United States for $649.99, or £569 in the United Kingdom, but its mid-range specifications make the price seem high compared with rival smartphones. Its modular design, repairable components, software updates through 2033, and focus on better worker conditions and environmental sustainability are intended to justify the premium. Fans remain divided, with some supporting the ethical approach and others arguing that competing phones offer better specifications and may last just as long with proper care. The author supports Fairphone's mission but would prefer flagship-level performance at the price, and a full review is forthcoming.

James Rogerson describes upgrading his personal privacy and security practices while retaining a preference for convenience. His setup includes Proton Unlimited for encrypted email and storage, Proton VPN, Incogni for data-broker removal, and YubiKeys for protecting his most important accounts, alongside existing tools such as 1Password, Norton, Malwarebytes and app-based two-factor authentication. He recommends end-to-end encryption, VPN use, strong unique passwords, authenticator apps and hardware security keys, while acknowledging drawbacks including migration effort, limited encrypted-content search, VPN blocking and the inconvenience of physical security keys.

Google plans to retire Google Assistant on Android and Wear OS on September 4, replacing it with Gemini. Reddit users are reacting negatively, saying Gemini often struggles with simple tasks such as setting alarms, timers, and controlling smart-home devices. Complaints also include lengthy, forced conversations, inaccurate claims about completed actions, higher battery and data use, and opposition to the broader push to integrate AI into everyday products. Some users say the change could make them abandon Pixel or Android phones, although Google is unlikely to reverse course as competitors such as Apple also pursue AI upgrades to their assistants.

Leaks ahead of the expected August 12 launch suggest that the Google Pixel 11 series will introduce a rear-panel notification feature called HiLight, potentially activated by favorite contacts or Gemini. Reported US prices are $100 higher across the range, while the Pixel 11 Pro and Pro XL may offer optional 12GB RAM configurations, and the standard Pixel 11 could lose its telephoto camera. Other expected changes include new colors, a Tensor G6 chipset and up to 120x AI-assisted zoom on Pro models. The article rates HiLight and the Tensor G6 as highly likely, while treating the camera downgrade as less certain.